What's being built exactly?
Proposed works include:
- Removal of all existing groynes at Kingsdown
- Construction of 16 new timber groynes
- Replacement timber boat ramp
- 24,000m³ recycling operation of shingle from the Walmer frontage
- Refurbishment of existing handrails
- Beach will be built up to the design level of +3.9m OD at the sea wall with an 8m wide berm ; it will be +3.5mOD at the crest with a 1:7 beach slope
The construction work will be spread along 600m of coastline.
Timber Groynes
The existing groynes are in a state of disrepair and are no longer effective at protecting the beach at Kingsdown, which is highly susceptible to erosion. The predominant direction of shingle transport is south to north. During the construction of the existing groynes, their orientation was not fully taken into account and thus the groynes do not trap the shingle effectively. Furthermore, the poor condition of these groynes emphasise their inability to successfully stabilise the beach. To compensate for this, beach recharges must be carried out each year which is a costly and disruptive process.
The proposed groynes will be built close to the existing groynes. To minimise any loss of shingle during the works, the existing groynes will be removed in stages.
Post construction, the requirement for beach material supply will become less frequent and beach levels will become more stable.
The design life for timber groynes is around 60 years. After this period the groynes will have an increased maintenance requirement; this is included within the budget.
Beach Recycling
In order to promote the stability of the beach at Kingsdown, a beach recycle will remove 24,000m³ of shingle from the Walmer beach and redeposit it at Kingsdown. This will raise the beach levels and flatten the beach slope, encouraging waves to shoal and break earlier, reducing their erosive capacity.
The material will be removed using an excavator at Walmer and transported by trucks to the groyne field where it shall be redistributed into each bay. Once deposited, the beach will be graded to a 1 in 7 slope and backed by a level berm.
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Contact
Liam Wooltorton, Canterbury City Council: Tel: 01227 862454, email liam.wooltorton@canterbury.gov.uk
or
Keith Watson, Dover District Council: Tel: 01304 872399, email keith.watson@dover.gov.uk